OUTBREAK OF FIRE

Southland Times, Issue 22008, 6 May 1933, Page 5

OUTBREAK OF FIRE

TAY STREET SHOPS. EARLY MORNING CALL. An outbreak of fire occurred early this morning in the buildings occupied by Miss Ibbotson’s fancy goods shop and Mr R. Ross’s hat shop in Tay street. The alarm was given from the box near the Supreme Court at a minute past one o’clock and two engines from the central station were speedily on the scene. The fire had started In a doorway at the back of and midway between the two shops. One lead of hose, all that was necessary, was taken through and the outbreak attacked. The fire had climbed a stairway near the door and the lead had to be taken upstairs before it could be subdued. In a remarkably short time the outbreak was extinguished. Surprisingly little damage was done to the buildings or their contents. In the upstairs portion the principal damage was received from heat and smoke, while downstairs only the walls and floors in the rear portion of Miss Ibbotson’s shop were charred. The staircase, up which the fire had travelled, was severely damaged, but the efforts of the firemen successfully checked it on its course. In Miss Ibbotson’s living apartments heat was responsible for the major portion of the damage. Part of the stock in both shops was ruined, but here again surprisingly little damage was done. Miss Ibbotson’s apartments were unoccupied at the time of the outbreak as she is at present in the north. Mr Ross and his wife do not sleep on the premises.